When a client struggles with emotional triggers, finding ways to help them disrupt that automatic cycle of reactivity can be difficult.
But according to Rick Hanson, PhD, there are three key practices that can help a client regain a sense of safety and calm – especially when anxiety gets triggered.
He takes us through them in the video below. Check it out – it’s just four minutes.
By resourcing clients with effective ways to strengthen their sense of safety and connection, we can begin to expand their toolkit for managing an emotional trigger.
Now I’d like to hear from you. What have you found to be helpful in working with a client’s emotional triggers?
Please share a comment below.
Hi, I am a new intern/therapist. And this is a very helpful video. I have seen as little as many clients who are struggling to go through their days, but I confirm how hard it is to detect what a person is inside when looking from the outside . I have found anxiety doesn’t Always reflect it all. You cannot assume you know how the person feel from their appearance or look/physical. Their struggle becomes our struggle when they can’t put into words what they are anxious about.
It happens that Iam anxious when time is running out especially during tests I remember having had many tickets for speeding when I was in college. The rush of adrenaline plays a big part of it but no joke to the officer. It occurred to me that my addiction to sugar and sweet in the swirling caramel latte that I drink three times a day is the culprit. When I am off, I am in recovery but only for a short time. What are your suggestions that I do? My tickets are very off and high up to 200 hundreds of dollars sometimes. There is no room for errors anymore and I can get easily impatient when stopped on the road….
Parents who come to me usually complaint about how their kids talk about running away from home. I ask them why.Then they answer thats what they heard to resolve theirfrustration. Is that what we teach them at home and outside to deal with their problems? Its creating unfinishing line to parents as what to say to their kids. And how to intervene if parents can’t get up tight when triggerd. Stay calm and talking back ddon’t seem to clear it out. Does anyone has the same triggers/
Hi, a teacher of mine has shown lots compassion for writers who have blocks and shared a really good antidepressant for writers block : take your favorite book and read it again and again for pleasure until inspired, OR block noises by wearing a headphone. Iwill give this atry there nothing to lose, for the worstk
Thank you for this video! Sometimes I have anxiety attacks and I can’t do anything when it’s happening. Sometimes I have to use blablawriting.com just because of these attacks. They interfere with my study.
Great link, thanks. I am working on my thesis…
I liked all what is said here. Good ideas about dealing with anxiety that I will certainly use for the benefit if others. Thanks.
I’ll tack this together with the Polyvagal Theory of our Self and how we function. Thanks
What have I noticed helps my anxious clients? The most immediately effective way is breathing from the diaphragm, breathing in and then breathing out for 2 counts longer. This helps them to restore a sense of calm and control in the therapy room and they report that it works for them in their outside world too.
I like to say that music is another of my passions. and I use it joyfully to emphasize the qualities of my customers playing an instrument. Singing is also a way of working one’s breath, but it may require good attentive lessons